12 Tomatoes

Baked pasta with ham is our go-to meal for Sunday dinner with family or friends. The rich and flavorful cream sauce will trick everyone into thinking that we’ve slaved over a stove all day, but the actual preparation is less than an hour from start to finish! Variety is the spice of life, or so they say, so we like to mix up the cheese blend from time to time, as it suits our tastes. Sharp cheddar complements the salty ham perfectly, and Italian-blend cheeses remind us of grandma’s home cooking. And a warm pasta dish like this needs something green and cool on the side, so we go for a simple salad with oil and balsamic vinegar dressing. For an extra impressive-looking dish, try swapping out the rotini pasta for fancier shapes, such as campanelle, radiatori or gigli. From the creamy sauce to the savory ham, we love this dish as simple comfort food that everyone loves.